The Dachshund
Origin Appearance Temperament Routine Care Grooming Links
Color/Marking Descriptions Coat Types
Origin
For the most part, the Germans are repsonsible for the developement of the Dachshund. Some type of field spaniel and a terrier were likely bred to a smooth to develop the long hair and the wire coats. Their unique shape of long body, short legs, and distinct nose is specialized for hunting badgers. Hunters used the Dachshund to keep the number of badgers down. Dachshund translated means "Badger Hound". The Dachshund has incredible tunneling ability and a keen scent. (Hence their habit of digging!) Today, Dachshunds can be seen in many AKC sanctioned activities, such as Earthdog, Agility, Tracking, Obedience, Field Trials and Conformation. In addition, some are involved in pet therapy work while others have been trained as drug sniffing dogs by police. But overall, they make an exceptional family pet and companion!!!
General Appearance
According to the standard, "The Dachshund is low to the ground, long in body and short of leg with robust muscles and elastic, pliable skin." They are bred in two sizes, which are defined by weight. The standard Dachshund ranges in weight from 16-32 pounds and the miniature Dachshund weighs 11 pounds and under. Ther AKC only recognizes Standards and Miniatures. However, dogs in between 11-16 pounds are referred to as "tweenies". There are three coat varieties: smooth (short hair), the long hair (long, silky coat), and the wire (a dense wiry coat). They are recognized in every color except solid white.
(Check our color/marking descriptions to see and understand the different colors and markings.)
Temperament
The Dachshund is clever, lively, and courageous. They are very affectionate and loving to his/her family. The Dachshund craves being the center of all family activities. Even though they are a hardy breed, the Dachshund is a more well suited inside pet. They can be somewhat protective of their enviroment and may bark when they sense a potential threat. They are also known to bark at the scent or sight of a varmint. See our Coat Type descriptions for temperment trends.
**TIP: Dachshunds can be wonderful, loyal pets for children in the right circumstances. But as with any dog, some cautions are in order.
First, Doxie loyalty can be taken too far. A dog that is loyal to his/her own children unto death may be reserved or even snappy with other children -- and may bite if he/she misinterprets play as a threat.
Second, children must be taught to treat your Doxie and not to pick him/her up. Their long backs are prone to injury, and rough play or mishandling can cause serious damage or even paralysis.
Routine Care
As with all dogs, they require a proper nutrition, a clean enviornment, routine veterinary care with vaccinations and dental care to maintain optimal health. Heartworm, flea, and tick prevention is always recommended. Consult with your vet to see what is right for you and your dog. Select a dog food that is well balanced for your Dachshund. It is easy to over feed (and give too many treats!!) An overweight Dachshund is not a healthy one. They can face similar problems as overweight humans such as diabetes, joint problems, decreased stamina and possibly back problems. Your Dachshund should never be allowed to run free. A fenced yard will provide him/her a safe place to excersize and avoid injuries from cars and other animals. (The Dachshund is not aware of how small he/her is!) Remember the Dachshund is a hunting breed so it is not uncommon for them to catch a scent and take off regardless if you are screaming or not.
Grooming
Dachshunds are generally very clean dogs with little to no body odor. Minimal grooming requirements include clipping the nails, cleaning the inside of the ears, bathing when necessary and removing tartar from the teeth at least twice yearly. Wirehaired and Longhaired dogs may require professional grooming with frequent brushing of the coat.
We strongly recommend that you become well educated about the breed before purchasing a dog.
Here are a few links to help do so:
The Dachshund Club of America
The American Kennel Club
The Dachshund Handbook by D. Caroline Coile, Ph.D.
Dachshunds from the Animal Planet Pet Care Library
By Sheila Webster Boneham, Ph.D.
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Colors....Markings....Coats
**According to AKC Standards**
Colors Markings Coats
Colors
One-colored Dachshunds include red and cream (with or without a shading of interspersed dark hairs.)
*A small amount of white on the chest is acceptable, but not desirable.*
Nose and nails are black.
Two-colored Dachshunds include black, chocolate, wild boar, gray (blue), and fawn (isabella),
each with deep, rich tan or cream markings over the eyes, on the sides of the jaw and underlip, on the inner edge of the ear, front, breast, sometimes on the throat, inside and behind the front legs, on the paws, and around the anus, and from there to about one-third to one-half of the length of the tail on the underside. Undue prominence of tan or cream markings is undesirable. A small amount of white on the chest is acceptable but not desirable. Nose and nails- in the case of black dogs, black; for chocolate and all other colors, dark brown, but self-colored is acceptable.
These colors can also be seen without tan or cream points (ie. solid black, solid chocote, ect).
**Any coat color can be solid or patterned, and can appear on any coat type**
Description of Colors Below with Pictures
Markings
(Patterns)
**Any coat color can be solid or patterned, and can appear on any coat type**
There are three main base patterns: brindle, piebald, and dapple.
Sable is also considered a pattern
Brindle
A pattern in which black or dark stripes occur over the entire body.
Although in some dogs the pattern may be only seen in the tan points.
Piebald
Pattern in which the dog appears to have large spots on a white background.
To be considered a piebald, a dog must show white on their neck, chest, all four legs, underbody, and tail tip.
Normally, dog has at least 50% white covering the body/back.
A dog with less white than this is not a piebald, and should not be registered as such.
*Some solid colored dogs will have some white on chest, toes, tip of tail. This is not a piebald but a solid colored dog.*
There are several versions of piebalds:
Ticked Piebald (showing ticking in the white areas, not colored areas)
Dappled Piebald (showing dappling in the colored areas, not white areas)
Brindled Piebald (showing brindling in the colored areas, not white areas)
*Black/Tan brindled piebalds will show brindling only in the tan points, not white areas.
Extreme Piebald (Color only on head, possibly very few small spots on body and new tail)
*There is no such thing as a solid white dachshund, and anyone representing such is misrepresenting.
The "white" dog is more than likely an extreme piebald with very small or light spots possibly being cream.
Could also possibly be a double dapple*
Dapple
The dapple (merle) pattern is expressed as lighter-colored areas contrasting with the darker base color, which may be any acceptable color. Neither the light nor the dark color should predominate. Nose and nails are the same as for one- and two- colored dogs. A large area of white on the chest is common.
Dapples can have two dark eyes, one dark eye and one blue eye, or two blue eyes.
(Only dappled dogs can have blue or dappled eyes.)
Dappling can act with piebald and/or brindling on the same dog.
*Double Dapples*
Produced when two dappled dogs are bred together.They normally show at least 25% white on their coat and
because of the 'double' merle gene, double dapples can be born blind and/or deaf. Even though some are born healthy, the consequences of this breeding can be severe. Some pups can not only be born completely blind and deaf, they can be born with partially developed eyes or no eyes at all. I do not believe in this type of intentional breeding nor condone it and only see it as an inhumane gamble.
*If you are interested in breeding, please discuss the genetics with me more in depth. There is a such thing as a hidden dapple where the dog only showed its dappling as a pup but as the dog got older, the visual dappling faded and disappeared. The dog is still genetically a dapple and will produce dapple puppies.*
Sable
The Sable pattern consists of a uniform dark overlay on red dogs. The overlay hairs are double-pigmented, with the tip of each hair much darker than the base color. The pattern usually displays a widow's peak on the head. Nose, nails and eye rims are black. Eyes are very dark. True red sable dogs will appear black or black/tan at a distance. A sable dog with red roots would be registered as a "red sable", with red being the color and sable being the marking. True sables are normally seen ONLY in longhairs, even though they CAN be seen in other coated dogs. The most common is a "Red Sable".
Overall there can be many combinations of markings:
Solid... Solid with Tan Points... Brindles... Dapples... Double Dapples... Piebalds... Ticked Piebalds... Brindled Piebalds... Dappled Piebalds... Double Dapples Piebalds... Ticked Brindled Piebalds... Ticked Dappled Piebalds...
Ticked Double Dappled Piebalds....
WHEW!!!!
Coat Types
**Any coat color can be solid or patterned, and can appear on any coat type**
There are three coat types in the Dachshund breed:
Smooth, Longhair, Wirehair
Smooth Coat
Smooth Coated Dachshunds have short, smooth, shining coats.
Longhaired
The sleek, glistening, often slightly wavy hair is longer under the neck and on forechest, the underside of the body, the ears and behind the legs. The coat gives the dog and elegant appearance. The tail forms a veritable flag where the hair attains its greatest length.
Wirehaired
The whole body is covered with uniform tight, short, thick, rough, hard, outer coat but with finer, somewhat softer, shorter hairs (undercoat) everywhere distributed between the coarser hairs. The distinctive facial furnishings include a beard and eyebrows. On the ears the hair is shorter than on the body, almost smooth.
Fun Fact/Opinion
According to many opinions of several breeders, dachshund owners and experts.... and myself.....
The Smooth Coated Dachshunds most closely embody the traits of their original badger-hunting ancestors. They tend to be sometimes aloof with strangers, loyal to their family, at times intolerant of strangers and changes in their surroundings, and stubborn.
The Longhaired Dachshund usually is more laid back and sweet. Many love water and show somewhat of a stonger hunting desire. Contrary to popular belief, the longhaired dachshund is not a shedding breed and has low maintenance grooming for the most part.
*All dogs/MAMMALS shed, however, longhaired dachshunds do not shed excessively unlike other breeds*
The Wirehaird Dachshund is more terrier like is usually an outgoing clown and full of energy. They too show a stronger hunting desire and can be VERY persistent in pursuit of a goal. Like the longhairs, shedding is very minimal.
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